James John Caulfield was the husband of my husbands 1st cousin 4 x removed, so you could say a distant relation. He was convicted of theft in Limerick, Ireland and there is a lengthy report relating to the theft in the Tipperary Free Press dated 12 Mar 1834. He arrived in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia as a convict aboard the ship “Hero” on 31 Aug 1835. Sadly, at this point, I don’t know anything about him until he married Mary Ann Good in Parramatta, New South Wales on 7 Jan 1846. There is much more work to be done on his story.
Marriage Notice
He made a decent life for himself, apparently becoming a publican in Bathurst, New South Wales. James and Mary Ann had 3 daughters and 1 son:
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Patience Ann Caulfield b. 10 Oct 1846
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James John Good Caulfield b. 28 May 1848
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Mary Ann Elizabeth Caulfield b. 24 Feb 1850
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Martina Clara Theresa Caulfield b. 1854
At some point in late January or perhaps early February of 1859 James met with an accident, breaking his thigh bone and injuring his hip. His death certificate does not state whether it was a left or right hip injury but it did lead to a painful and protracted illness, and ultimately to his death.
James John Caulfield died in Bathurst New South Wales on 20 Apr 1859 and was buried 2 days later.
Convict tales are often sad ones.
The Keeper of Stories 